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lilaezz's review against another edition
3.0
Current rating: 3.5/5
Reread 30/5:
Reread to prepare for the Fragile Threads of Power and shout out to V.E. Schwab’s summer readalong for making me do this!
My first review hasn’t changed much. I still like and enjoy this book but it’s definitely the weakest of the trilogy. The first half was however a lot easier to get through because I already care about most of the characters which is why I’m changed the rating to 3.5⭐️
Original Review:
Original rating: 3⭐️
So I have quite mixed feelings about this book.
The first 150-200 pages where boring for lack of a better word but I did end up enjoying the book when the plot picked up around the 200 page mark.
The overall concept is really REALLY interesting and I think she handled it very well.
It took me a while to really warm up to the characters (except Rhy, I liked him instantly) but I ended up caring about them in the end.
The plot was my least favorite part but the book was still fast paced and easy to read so it didn’t bother me too much when it actually started. It just took a while for it to get going.
The world was well developed enough but I definitely wanna know more! The magic system was kinda a little bit confusing and I’m still not 100% sure how it actually works but I enjoyed that part as well.
The slow start is mostly the reason as to why I’m giving this book 3 stars. I even thought about DNFing it but I’m happy I didn’t. I’m overall happy I read it and I’m excited to read the next books whenever I end up buying them.
Reread 30/5:
Reread to prepare for the Fragile Threads of Power and shout out to V.E. Schwab’s summer readalong for making me do this!
My first review hasn’t changed much. I still like and enjoy this book but it’s definitely the weakest of the trilogy. The first half was however a lot easier to get through because I already care about most of the characters which is why I’m changed the rating to 3.5⭐️
Original Review:
Original rating: 3⭐️
So I have quite mixed feelings about this book.
The first 150-200 pages where boring for lack of a better word but I did end up enjoying the book when the plot picked up around the 200 page mark.
The overall concept is really REALLY interesting and I think she handled it very well.
It took me a while to really warm up to the characters (except Rhy, I liked him instantly) but I ended up caring about them in the end.
The plot was my least favorite part but the book was still fast paced and easy to read so it didn’t bother me too much when it actually started. It just took a while for it to get going.
The world was well developed enough but I definitely wanna know more! The magic system was kinda a little bit confusing and I’m still not 100% sure how it actually works but I enjoyed that part as well.
The slow start is mostly the reason as to why I’m giving this book 3 stars. I even thought about DNFing it but I’m happy I didn’t. I’m overall happy I read it and I’m excited to read the next books whenever I end up buying them.
itisnatal's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
celine128's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
pms93's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
caitlinww's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
zapeiron's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
audragio's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
quotingmachine's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
popsolo's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
whiterubys's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5 stars
Looking for trouble, he'd say. You're gonna look til you find it. Trouble is the looker, she'd answer. It keeps looking till it finds you. Might as well find it first.
This delightfully magical book follows Kell, an Antari: a mythical race with a gift for magic, and Lila, an aspiring pirate and thief who's lived her life on the streets. It takes place across three Londons: Red London, White London, and Grey London. When Kell is set up with a cursed trinket from White London, he quickly seeks to dispose of it, but Lila, in Grey London, finds him first. The two navigate through worlds they're unfamiliar with, traverse the Londons in search of an adventure, and find themselves in deeper than they ever imagined.
I was excited to read this book since it was my very first Schwab book. Unfortunately, I wasn't quite as into it as I thought I would be. I found myself unable to connect with any of the characters, and their protagonists were quite dull to me. I really wanted to like Lila, but I'm not entirely fond of a female character that, multiple times, tears other women down for no good reason. I wasn't a fan of the romance, either. However, I'm torn between giving this book 3 or 4 stars because the worldbuilding is so excellent. I love the idea of four different Londons and the fact that geography is different in each world. Overall, A Darker Shade of Magic was an entertaining read, but not my favorite in terms of YA fantasy.
Looking for trouble, he'd say. You're gonna look til you find it. Trouble is the looker, she'd answer. It keeps looking till it finds you. Might as well find it first.
This delightfully magical book follows Kell, an Antari: a mythical race with a gift for magic, and Lila, an aspiring pirate and thief who's lived her life on the streets. It takes place across three Londons: Red London, White London, and Grey London. When Kell is set up with a cursed trinket from White London, he quickly seeks to dispose of it, but Lila, in Grey London, finds him first. The two navigate through worlds they're unfamiliar with, traverse the Londons in search of an adventure, and find themselves in deeper than they ever imagined.
I was excited to read this book since it was my very first Schwab book. Unfortunately, I wasn't quite as into it as I thought I would be. I found myself unable to connect with any of the characters, and their protagonists were quite dull to me. I really wanted to like Lila, but I'm not entirely fond of a female character that, multiple times, tears other women down for no good reason. I wasn't a fan of the romance, either. However, I'm torn between giving this book 3 or 4 stars because the worldbuilding is so excellent. I love the idea of four different Londons and the fact that geography is different in each world. Overall, A Darker Shade of Magic was an entertaining read, but not my favorite in terms of YA fantasy.